11.10.10

Google tools that are interesting to me at this time are google docs, google blogger, and google maps. It's difficult getting used to using google docs. I'm so used to word and saving everything then emailing it to myself and so forth. I am looking forward to the convience of having everything stored in one place and being able to pull it up from any computer at any time. I'm looking forward to using google blogger and learning how to use that. I've never really blogged before or read other blogs so this will be a new experience. It will be nice to have a place to write down various thoughts and questions whenever I need to and once again have it accessable from any computer and at any time. I love using google maps. With the job I have right now I travel a lot form one location to another. It's such a great way to not get lost.

I am currently not using any of the google docs in my professional life, at least I wasn't until I started this class. Currently I am working at the YMCA. We definately are not using google docs. We are stritcly using Microsoft Word and we save everything to the hard drive. It makes it somewhat difficult because we always have 10 different versions of the same piece of information floating around our office at any given time. Google docs is something I would definately like to start implementing in our office. I am lucky that I work with such great collegues that have been with the Y for years. We are always bouncing ideas off of one another and we are provided with many great training opportunities, usually on a weekly basis. I currently am not in a traditional "classroom" but I am running afterschool programs which is almost like a classroom of it's own. I'm fortunate to still get to teach children a wide variety of life skills and learning skills in a fun presentable way. I have my own group of children that I work with each and every day and we work as team to get things done. Whether we are trying to solve a problem that are group is struggling with or if we are brainstorming activities for the upcoming weeks, we are always working as a team. Our program doesn't have a lot of technology built into it at this time. That is something that I would love to bring into our program.

I've discovered that PLN's are crucial aspects of staying updated on new ideas while at the same time a great place to "not feel alone." They are great places to realize that everyone has difficult days and successful days and that all the days combined help make your job successful. If i were to join or work with one PLN I would love to work with CCBC. I currently work with school age children and literacy and literature is huge in our program. CCBC is in town for me and I've used them on occassion. I have had nothing but gerat success with CCBC and the people working there are some of the most helpful people I have ever had the pleasure to work with.

It is absolutely important to have a Library Media Center Web Page. In my opinion the web page is what is going to help get children and families interested in visiting the library. I almost feel that it is more crucial for families to have access to the web page. This is where they should be able to find information on upcoming events, materials that their children will have access to, and other aspects of the library.

Louis Question: This class has shown me so far that I need to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. I've been so complacent in my life and sticking with the same job for years and using the same computer programs that I've become to comfortable with my life. The past two weeks have shown me that there is a whole lot out there and to try something new. This past week I've been working on getting more comfortable using the new google tools that I am unfamiliar with as well as talking co-workers into trying these tools, and I've began searching for "teaching' jobs again. This week I have learned that there are so many resources out there to try and that no matter what your profession is, there is a PLN for everyone. I've also learned that google has amazing features that I never really realized and I can't wait to use them all.